Jakarta – Anticipatory steps are needed in preventing forest and land fires. To improve the effeciency on monitoring the situation in the surrounding plantation, Astra Agro utilized unmaned aerial vehicle (UAV) in facing the threat of the peak of the dry season this year. UAVs or drones (drones) equipped with these cameras will be flown periodically while sending video from field monitoring straight to the emergency response team.
“With this equipment and technology, the team assigned specifically to prevent and overcome forest and land fires can move faster to the location according to the coordinates provided by the drone camera,” said PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, Tofan Mahdi.
Increasing the effectiveness of this prevention, according to him, is a form of Astra Agro’s commitment as an oil palm company that implements company operations in accordance with the principles of sustainability.
Besides completing the emergency response team through drones monitoring, a subsidiary of the Astra Agro Group establishes intensive communication and coordination with relevant parties, such as local governments, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Indonesian National Army, and the local Police.
Forest and land fire prevention efforts are also carried out through involvement from the community around the plantation. The socialization was strengthened by spreading the broadcast sms containing the message so that each part looked after the environment and worked together to avoid the slightest fire event. In order to ensure the availability of water, the company builds reservoirs and other means of water storage which will be very useful as a source of water for firefighting in the event of fire.
The police appreciated the activity. As stated when Astra Agro’s subsidiary in Riau coordinates with Pelalawan District Police, Riau, who are equally committed to maintaining regional security. “This year we prove to the world that we have prepared everything for fire prevention. We must have a strong commitment to realize that, “said Pelalawan Police Chief, AKBP Indra Widjatmiko when attending coordination at PT SLS, Wednesday (7/15). (*)
